Where is the matte field???

Hi all!!,,

anybody knows where is the matte field in the viewfinder in my pentax zx-7?

I don't know what is this.

Hi,
The "matte field" is the general area of the focus screen. With MF cameras there was more of a difference. The centre part was normally a split screen or microprism or both and the surrounding area was matte field. With autofocus you don't need these focus aids so effectively the whole area is matte field with just a couple of marks to show the autofocus zone. It's called matte field because it is "frosted" so the image can be seen. With some cameras, you can get a clear screen which is mainly used for extreme macro and astronomy.

Regards
Kim

Hi,

thanks for you reply, the manual suggested to use this area in low light conditions when the autofocus doesn't works, but I never obtained good focus results,

so I think that I must to practise more, the same that to practise my english, is very very poor....I'm sorry.

Thanks again...

Hi

Apologies, but this isn't an answer to the query but a follow-on question for Kim C. I was under the impression that the matte field was the ground area normally found around split fields (the bit where the to sides 'line up' when in focus) in the centre of MF cameras. I thought that the matte field worked by only becoming 'transparent' when the subject they covered was in focus - this only happens at exactly the point of focus, in effect the depth of field is tiny.

My AF camera doesn't have this feature, or the split screen.

Have I misunderstood what a matte screen is?

Cheers
Matt

Hi Mattie,
From the Pentax LX focus screen brochure (will be on the website tonight ), the SE20, 25 are plain screens and are descibed as Matte field only ie no focus aid and are similiar to the ones in AF cameras with the zones marked. The SA 2x series are Matte field with microprism spot. It is this area from the LX manual which goes clear or at least stops "twinkling". The "standard" screen was the SC21 which had split field surrounded by microprism and then the matte field. They also did a screen with all microprism (SA37) which was for ultra close up and long telephoto lenses. The clear screen I was referring to was the SD11. As a matter of interest I use a plain matte screen in both my LXs and my MX as I don't like the distraction of the aids.

In short yes! what you thought was matte field is microprism.

Kim